Car mat washing machine



Aug. 13, 1968 R. HAVERBERG CAR MAT WASHING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HA VE/PBERG BY Maid ATTORNEY:

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Aug. 3, 1968 R. HAVERBERG 3,396,422

CAR MAT WASHING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 62 & 49 t I 3/0 5 /7 Z3 M /z M I 2 l 79 33 I 4 47 jfl zg g /z 5 4 5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,396,422 CAR MAT WASHING MACHINE Russell Haverberg, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Russ Haverherg Co., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed June 28, 1966, Ser. No. 561,084 3 Claims. (Cl. 15--308) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for washing and drying automobile floor mats having a mat supporting grating, rotary brush means for conveying liquid to and scrubbingly engaging one side of a mat through the grating, superposed in feed rolls for feeding a mat to the brush means, a pressure plate pivotally mounted over the brush means for movements toward and away from the brush means and for yieldingly holding a mat in a flat condition against the brush means, primary and secondary pairs of superposed out-feed rolls, and a fan. The out-feed rolls impart squeezing action on a mat fed therebetween, the lowermost secondary outfeed roll being disposed in air inlet means to said fan and subject, with the adjacent damp surface of the mat, to drying action of air flowing through the inlet means to the fan.

Heretofore, in car washing establishments, the mats have been removed from a car and placed on the floor for washing with high pressure soap and rinsing solutions, or manually scrubbed, In many instances, the mats are replaced in the vehicle in a wet or only partially dried condition, adding to objectionable humidity in the vehicle, until the same is thoroughly dried out.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a car mat washing machine which will rapidly and thoroughly clean a mat and deliver the same in a dry condition for replacement an automobile vehicle.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a car mat washing machine having means for feeding a mat through a washing zone, said means being operative to wring or squeeze most of the liquid from the mat prior to its passage to a drying zone.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a machine including a fan having air inlet means and an outlet, arranged so that a mat being dried passes through the air inlet means, whereby drying air flows against the mat during discharge thereof from the machine, the air flow being generally opposite to that of mat discharge movement.

' Still another object ofthis invention is the provision of a car mat washing machine having rotary mat scrubbing brushes and means for rotating the brushes in a mat feeding direction to aid in the feeding thereof through the machine.

The above, and still further highly important objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the invention, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

'FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a car mat washing machine produced in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, some parts being broken away and some parts removed;

FIG. 3 is a view in top plan, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG; 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, taken substantially on the line 66 of FIG. 3, and inverted; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 7--7 of FIG. 5.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, a generally rectangular frame structure is shown as comprising front and rear walls 1 and 2 respectively, laterally spaced side walls 3 and 4, a bottom wall 5, a vertically disposed transverse partition 6 and supporting legs 7. With reference to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the upper edge portion of the front wall 1 is inturned to provide a flange 8, The frame structure further includes a pair of laterally spaced forwardly projecting arms 9 which may be formed as extensions of their respective side walls 3 and 4, or welded thereto, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. The front wall 1, partition 6, and side walls 3 and 4 cooperate to define the vertical walls of an open topped liquid tank having a bottom 10 in upwardly spaced relation to the bottom wall 5, the tank being adapted to contain water or other suitable cleaning liquid, indicated at 11.

A horizontally disposed mat supporting grating 12 comprises a plurality of laterally spaced parallel support rods 13 that are welded or otherwise secured at one end to a cross rod or shaft 14 disposed in rearwardly spaced relation to the front wall 1 and suitably anchored to the side walls 3 and 4. At their rear end portions, the support rods 13 are suitably secured to a cross-sectionally V-shaped cross bar 15 disposed in overlying relation to the liquid 11 adjacent the partition 6, the cross bar 15 being welded or otherwise rigidly secured at its opposite ends to the side walls 3 and 4. The cross bar 15 is formed to provide one or more drain apertures 16, see FIG. 5.

Brush means, comprising a pair of generally cylindrical rotary brushes 17 and 18, are disposed in the liquid tank below the level of the grating 12 on parallel horizontal axes extending transversely of the grating support rods 13. The scrubbing brushes 17 and 18 are provided with axial shafts 19 and 20 respectively which extend outwardly through the side walls 3 and 4 and which are journalled in bearings 21 secured to the outer surfaces of the side walls 3 and 4. The brushes 17 and 18 comprise radial brush elements or bristles 22, the brushes 17 and 18 being disposed at a level wherein the bristles 22 dip into the cleaning liquid 11 and extend radially upwardly between the support bars 13, responsive to rotation of the brushes 17 and 18.

A pair of superposed upper and lower infeed rolls 23 and 24 respectively are disposed between the side walls 3 and 4 between the front ends of the support rods 13 and the plane of the front wall 1, the rolls 23 and 24 being provided with axially extended shafts 25 and 26 respectively that extend through the side walls 3 and 4, and which are journalled in bearings 27 secured to the side walls 3 and 4, for rotation on horizontal axes parallel to the axes of the brushes 17 and 18. An idler roll 28 is suitably journalled at its opposite ends in the front end portions of the arms 9, and an endless conveyor belt or apron 29 is entrained over the idler roll 28 and over the lower infeed roll 24, the bight defined by the upper roll 23 and the apron 29 therebetween and the lower infeed roll 24 being disposed substantially at the level of the support bars 13, see particularly FIG. 4.

A pair of superposed upper and lower primary outfeed rolls 30 and 31 respectively are disposed on parallel generally horizontal axes parallel to the axes of the infeed rolls 23 and 24 intermediate the brush 18 and the cross bar 15, the roll 31 having an axial shaft 32 that extends through the side walls 3 and 4 and which is journalled in bearings 33 secured to the outer surfaces of the side walls 3 and 4. The upper primary outfeed roll is formed at its opposite ends to provide axial shafts 34 that extend outwardly through upwardly opening slots 35 in the side walls 3 and 4, whereby the upper primary outfeed roll 30 is capable of vertical movement relative to the roll 31. As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the lower roll 31 is provided with a plurality of axially spaced radially outwardly opening circumferential grooves 36, each of which receives a different one of the support rods 13 of the grating 12, the bight defined by the rolls 30 and 31 being substantially at the level of the tops of the support rods 13.

- A pair of superposed upper and lower secondary outfeed rolls 37 and 38 respectively are disposed on horizontal aXes parallel to the axes of the rolls 30 and 31 and at substantially common levels with the axes of the rolls 30 and 31 respectively. The secondary outfeed rolls 37 and 38 are disposed longitudinally outwardly of the adjacent ends of the support rods 13 and between the planes of the rear wall 2 and partition 6, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The lower roll 38 is provided at its opposit ends with axial shaft portions 39 which project through the side walls 3 and 4 and which are journaled in bearings 40 secured to the outer surfaces of the side walls 3 and 4. The upper roll 37 is likewise provided with axial shaft portions 41 at its opposite ends, the shaft portions 41 extending through upwardly opening vertical slots 42 in the side walls 3 and 4. A pair of yoke elements 43 overlie the opposite end portions of the upper outfeed rolls 30 and 37, and are provided with central openings 44 for reception of a pair of studs 45 that are secured to and extend upwardly from opposite end portions of the cross bar 15. A pair of wing nuts or the like 46 are screw threaded on the upper ends of the studs 45, and washer equipped coil compression springs 47 are interposed between the wing nuts 46 and their respective yoke elements 43 to yieldingly urge the yoke elements 43 and upper outfeed rolls 30 and 37 into engagement of the rolls 30 and 37 with their respective lower outfeed rolls 31 and 38. Yielding bias of the springs 47 is varied by adjustment of the wing nuts 46.

The pressure plate 48, preferably made from sheet metal, such as steel or the like, overlies the grating 12 in closely upwardly spaced relation to the support rods 13 thereof, and is provided at one side edge thereof, adjacent the upper infeed roll 23, with a transverse shaft 49 that is journalled at its opposite end portions in the side walls 3 and 4. The opposite side edge portion of the pressure plate 48 is curved to provide a supporting lip 50 that rests upon the upper primary outfeed roll 30 between the yoke elements 43.

A mat-supporting delivery grate 51 comprises a plurality of laterally spaced parallel bars 52, similar to .the support rods 13, joined at their outer ends by a cross bar 53 and welded intermediate their ends to a transverse angle bar 54 that is Welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the upper edge of the rear wall 2, the inner ends of the bars 52 being disposed adjacent the bight of the secondary outfeed rolls 37 and 38. It will be noted that the bars 52 are disposed at a common level with the support rods 13.

Mat drying means comprises a rotary fan 55 that is disposed in a housing comprising a portion of the rear wall 2 and a housing element 56 rigidly secured to the rear wall 2, the fan 55 being driven by a motor 57 mounted on a bracket 58 secured to the housing element 56. The housing element 56 defines an air outlet 59 for the fan 55, the rear wall 2 defining an air inlet opening 60, the side walls 3 and 4, end wall 2 and partition 6 defining an air inlet chamber 61 the bottom of which is defined by the portion of the bottom Wall 5. With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be seen that the lower secondary outfeed roll 38 is disposed in the upper end portion of the air inlet chamber 61. With reference to FIG. 6, it will be seen that the infeed roll shafts 25 and 26 are connected for common rotation in a mat-feeding direction by a pair of intermeshing gears 62 and 63 rigidly mounted on the shafts 25 and 26 respectively adjacent the side wall 4,

" within a shroud or housing 64. Also Within the shroud '64,

a pair of gears 65 and 66 are rigidly mounted on the shaft portions 34 and 32 respectively, and other intermeshing gears 67 and 68 are rigidly mounted on the shafts 41 and 39 respectively. The teeth of the gears 65-68 are of such radial length to permit intermeshing of cooperating pairs thereof during limited vertical movementof the outfeed rolls 30 and 37 relative to their respective rolls 31 and 38.

Means for imparting feeding rotation to the infeed and outfeed rolls, and scrubbing rotation to the brushes 17 and 18, comprises a motor 69 mounted on bracket means 70 suitably mounted on the frame structure, the motor 69 having an output shaft 71 on which are rigidly mounted a relatively small sprocket wheel 72 and a relatively larger sprocket wheel 73. An endless link chain 74 is entrained over the sprocket wheel 72 and a pair of relatively larger sprocket wheels 75 and 76, the former of which is mounted fast on the infeed roll shaft 26 adjacent the side wall 3, and the latter of which is rigidly mounted on the secondary outfeed roll shaft portion 39. The shaft portions 39 and 32 are interconnected for common rotation by sprocket wheels 77 and 78 rigidly mounted on the shaft portions 32 and 39 respectively, and an endless link chain 79 entrained over the sprocket wheels 77 and 78. An endless link chain 80 is entrained over the larger diameter sprocket wheel 73 and a pair of relatively smaller sprocket wheels 81 and 82 mounted fast on the shafts 19 and 20 respectively, the relative diameters of the several sprocket wheels being such that the peripheral speed of the conveyor belt or apron 29, and feed rolls 23, 30, 31, 37 and 38 are equal, and that the peripheral speed of the brushes 17 and 18 is substantially greater, the brushes rotating in a direction tending to urge a mat being scrubbed thereby toward the outfeed rolls. The abovedescribed drive chains and sprocket wheels are preferably enclosed in a shroud or housing 83 suitably mounted on the side wall 3.

In the operation of the above-described machine, assuming that the motors 57 and 69 are energized, a mat M, portions of two of which are shown in FIG. 5, is inverted and laid upon the conveyor or apron 29, the apron 29 conveying the mat M on to the grating 12 beneath the pressure plate 48. Rotation of the brushes 17 and 18 causes the bristles 22 thereof to engage and scrub the adjacent surface of the mat, the pressure plate 48 holding the mat in engagement with the grating 12 and the bristles 22. Although the brushes 17 and 18 are rotating in a mat feediug direction, the peripheral speed thereof is substantially greater than the speed of the mat passing thereover, so that the brush engaged surface of the :mat becomes thoroughly scrubbed. As the mat M advances toward the pairs of primary and secondary outfeed rolls, the compression springs 47 cause the outfeed rolls to wring or squeeze most of the liquid from the mat M. Then, as the mat M moves over the delivery grate 51 and above the transverse angle bar 54, the mat cooperates with the angle bar 54 and grate bars 52 to define a plurality of air passages 84, see FIG. 7, which lead from the exterior of the machine to the inlet chamber 61. The inward flow of air throughthe passages 84 and along the undersurface of the mat M effectively air dries the scrubbed undersurface of the mat.

With the above-described machine, only the soiled side of a mat is scrubbed, the opposite side thereof being kept substantially dry. Hence, due to the air drying of the scrubbed surface of the mat, the cleaned mat may be replaced in the vehicle in a cleaned and dried condition.

This invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth; and, while I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my car mat washing machine, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a car mat washing machine,

(a) a frame structure,

(b) an open topped liquid tank,

(c) a generally horizontally disposed grating adjacent the open top of said tank, said grating including a plurality of elongated laterally spaced support rods,

(d) generally horizontally disposed rotary cylindrical brush means journalled in said frame structure below the level of the grating and elongated in a direction transversely of said support rods,

(e) said brush means having circumferentially spaced radial brush elements adapted to dip into liquid in said tank and to extend upwardly between said bars responsive to rotation of said brush means,

(i) a pair of superposed infeed rolls journalled in said frame structure on axes parallel to said brush means at one end of said grating,

(g) primary and secondary pairs of superposed outfeed rolls journalled in said frame structure adjacent the other end of said grating on axes parallel to said infeed roll axes, one of the rolls of each superposed primary and secondary pair thereof being yieldingly urged toward its cooperating roll to impart squeezing action on a mat moving therebetween to remove the greater part of liquid adhering to the mat,

(h) means for imparting common mat-feeding rotacharacterized by a movable pressure plate overlying said support rods for engagement with the upper surface of a mat fed over said support rods by said infeed rolls.

3. The car mat washing machine defined in claim 2,

characterized by pivot means mounting one side edge of said pressure plate on said frame structure adjacent said infeed rolls for swinging movements of said pressure plate toward and away from said support rods, the opposite side edge of said pressure plate being supported by one of said outfeed rolls.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,381,553 6/1921 Hildreth et al. 2,234,813 3/1941 Tomaino 15-40 XR 3,333,291 8/1967 Hondzinski 15-308 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 672,712 5/1952 Great Britain.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner. 

